Phuket is one of the southern provinces of Thailand, lying off the west coast in the Andaman Sea.
Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand.
It formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber, and enjoys a rich and colorful history. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign ship logs of Portuguese, French, Dutch, and English traders. The region now derives much of its income from tourism.